the foot, a start-4. And mingle our own graces with His merits, we give Him an ing of the horse, erroneous reception. III. It was to be eaten with bitter herbs. a great shower, We must have a contrite heart. Consider-1. What your condi

a sudden mist, or

or a word unde- tion was; 2. Your exposure; 3. What would have been your end; signedly cast 4. What you are still.d

forth in an army, has turned the

stream of victory from one side to another, and thereby disposed of empires and whole nations."

South.

d Dr. Spencer. e Dr. Boyd.

fellowship with the ungodly

α

Alford; but Mackenzie thinks

the former part of this letter is meant; yet the principal critics agree with Alford.

The power of evil.-I do not know why it is that by the constitution of the universe evil has so much more power than good to produce its effect and to propagate its nature. One drop of foul will pollute a whole cup of fair water, but one drop of fair water has no power to appreciably improve a cup of foul. Sharp pain present in a tooth or a toe will make the whole man miserable, though all the rest of his body be easy; but if all the rest of the body be suffering, an easy tooth or toe will cause no perceptible alleviation.

9-11. wrote.. epistle, wh. has not come down to us. company, make friends or companions of. this world, the heathen world, the world outside the Church. A man may be good enough for the world who is not fit for the Church. for.. world, and live in a monastery, for example, a thing that P. would not teach, nor Christ allow. man.. brother, by separating fr. him, you are to enter your solemn protest against his character as unworthy the Christian name. covetous, etc., except in the case of the drunkard, this Apostolic precept is not now usually observed. But why not? with.. eat, certainly not at the Lord's Supper. Association with fornicators forbidden.-I. All unnecessary society and intimate familiarity with scandalous professors ought to be avoided, in order that-1. Religion may not be thought to favour them; 2. The Church may not suffer by them. II. As it ought to be the Church's care to purge out such, and separate them from her communion; so is it every private Christian's duty his religious per- to do the same. III. If eating with fornicators be forbidden at formances, must our own table; much less ought any Church to suffer them a be holy."-Henry. religious eating at the Lord's Table.c c W. Burkitt.

b 1 Th. iii. 6.

"The whole life

of a Christian must be a feast unleavened bread; his com

of

mon conversation, as well as

have more to do

Fellowship with the ungodly.-Mr. Robert Blair, in a memoir of "When men his life, written by himself, says, "That year (1616) having, upon with the world an evening, been engaged in company with some irreligious perthan they can sons, when I returned to my chamber, and went to my ordinary well manage, devotion, the Lord did show so much displeasure and wrath, that they shall have I was driven from prayer, and heavily threatened to be deserted Satan than they of God. For this I had a restless night, and resolved to spend the can well with- next day in extraordinary humiliation, fasting, and prayer; and, stand."-Owen.

more to do with

toward the evening of that day, I found access to God, with sweet peace, through Jesus Christ, and learned to beware of such company; but then I did run into another extreme of rudeness and incivility toward such as were profane and irreligious, so hard a thing is it for short-sighted sinners to hold the right and the straight way."

12, 13. judge.. without? I have no authority to pass sentence on men of the world. judge.. within ? who by entering have made themselves amenable to your rules? them.. judgeth,a there will be a trial and a sentence for them. put away, in the manner indicated, fr. your society. that.. perSson, of whom I have been writing.

The judgment of God and the judgment of the Church.-I. The one is limited, the other is universal. II. The one is partial,

cipline."-- Seneca.

b Dr. Lyth.

the other absolute. III. The one is disciplinary, the other judicial. it may not be IV. The one may possibly err, the other is infallible. V. The subdued by disone is provisional, the other will be final. VI. The effects of the one are temporary, the effects of the other will be eternal. Object of discipline.-Visiting a person who was in deep afflic-c C. Scriver. tion and sorrow, Gotthold was told by the family that he was in the "Correct opinions, well estagarden. Thither he followed, and found him employed in clearing a blished on any vine of its superfluous leaves. After a friendly salute, he in- subject, are the quired what he was doing. "I find," was the reply, "that owing best preservato the abundant rain, this vine is overgrown with wood and leaves, tive against the which prevents the sun from reaching and ripening the grapes; error." I am therefore pruning part of them away, that it may bring its Mant. fruit to maturity." Gotthold rejoined, "And do you find, that "Sound judgin this operation the vine resists and opposes you? If not, why ment is the are you displeased that a gracious God should do to you what ground of writing your vine must not be displeased that you do to it ?"

seductions of

Bishop

well."Roscom

mon.

CHAPTER THE SIXTH.

17.

ignorance in re

1-3. dare,a "treason against Christians is denoted by this on litigation high-sounding word." law.. unjust, "as we have nothing to a Ma. xviii. 15do with judging the heathen (see v. 12, 13), so we ought not to go to law bef. them, or suffer them to judge us." The verdict of the b Bengel. heathen would most prob. be unjust, if they attempted to settle c Stanley. matters of wh. they were not morally competent to judge. do..d Hence Locke know? a question repeated six times in this cap.d saints.. regards it as a world, by the principles of the Gospel wh. they live and teach. reproof of their unworthy, unfit; without power. judge.. matters, betw. ligious matters, one Christian and another. angels, prob. evil angels are meant, notwithstanding who are now condemned by Christian holiness, and who will here- their boasted knowledge. after be judged by Jesus and His saints. how.. more, since we are more familiar with them. things.. life, esp. the spiritual and moral life of the Church. Why a saint should not go to law with his brethren..-I. It demeans Christianity before the world-for Christianity teaches peace, forbearance, unity, and love. II. It cedes to worldly men an opportunity of judging Christian character-the complainant as well as the defendant. III. It denies the competency of the Church to adjust differences among its own members. IV. It is to prefer law to equity. V. It is totally opposed to the spirit of Christ.g

e Ma. xix. 28; Jo.

xii. 31.

Jude 6. "Besides the

scandal of such a proceeding, as exposing their internal differences to the eyes there were

of the heathen,

cer

tain formali

ties to be gone through in the heathen lawcourts, such as adjurations by

Advice of Dr. Twiss.-Mr. Philip Henry relates a remarkable story concerning a good old friend of his, who when young, being an orphan, was greatly wronged by his uncle. His portion, which was £200, was put into the hands of that uncle, who, when he grew up, shuffled with him, and would give him but £40, instead of his £200, and he had no way of recovering his right but by law. But, before he would engage in that, he was willing to ad- idolatrous prac

heathen deities, which would in

volve them in

Words

vise with his minister, who was the famous Dr. Twiss, of New-tices." worth. See also berry. The counsel he gave him, all things considered, was, for Blunt's Lec. 96, peace sake, and for the preventing of sin, and snares, and troubles, 110. to take the £40 rather than contend; "and, Thomas," said the g Dr. J. Lyth. doctor, "if thou dost so, assure thyself that God will make it up to thee and thine some other way, and they that defraud will be injuries, and

Slight small

they will become at all."

none Fuller.

arbitrators

a Ac. vi. 2, 3. b Alf., Mack.

"To go to law is

for two persons to kindle a fire at their own cost to warm others, and singe themselves to cinders; and because they

cannot agree as and equity, they will both agree to unplume

to what is truth

the losers by it at last." He did so, and it pleased God so to bless that little which he began the world with, that when he died in a good old age, he left his son possessed of some hundreds a year, whilst he that had wronged him fell into poverty.

4-6. judgments, seats of judicature. things.. life, as dis. fr. the future life. set them, etc.a as sufficient to try secular causes. I..shame, I say this to put you to shame. judge, decide, arbitrate. brother.. brother, a family strife made a public spectacle. unbelievers, who not only are incompetent to settle Church disputes, but should not be called in to settle other matters. Consider also the moral damage done to unbelievers, whose highest good may be secured by consistent example.

Duty of Christians in reference to legal prosecutions.-I. Christ has made it the duty of His disciples to settle all their differences among themselves, without resorting to legal prosecutions. II. There are strong and weighty reasons-reasons binding on the conscience of every Christian- why he should not go to law with themselves, that others may be his brother-1. It is contrary to the spirit and precepts of the decorated with Gospel; 2. It brings strife and contention into the Church; 3. their feathers." It dishonours Christ and religion; 4. It tends to its destruction. Learn-(1) This is an evil which should be discountenanced by every Christian; (2) It can in no sense be justified; (3) The Church is bound to make this offence a subject of discipline.c

-Feltham.

c Dr. Lintner.

"A quarrel may be compared to a spark, which cannot be produced without a flint as well as a them may hammer on wood for ever, no fire will

steel; either of

follow."-South.

suffering wrong

a Ma. v. 39, 40; 1 Th. v. 13, 15.

b Ge. xiii. 1-13.

Opinion of Erskine.-Lord Erskine, when at the bar, and at the time when his professional talents were most eminent and popular, having been applied to by his friend Dr. Parr for his opinion upon a subject likely to be litigated by him, after recommending the doctor "to accommodate the difference amicably," concluded his letter by observing, "I can scarcely figure to myself a situation in which a lawsuit is not, if possible, to be avoided."-Brotherly love.-A little boy, seeing two nestling birds pecking at each other, inquired of his elder brother what they were doing." They are quarrelling," was the answer. "No," replied the child, "that cannot be; they are brothers."

66

7, 8. fault, of injustice or injury on the one hand, of retaliation on the other. rather.. wrong ?" bear an injury for the Master's sake, rather than do an injury to His cause? rather.. defrauded? consider the case of the Patriarch. nay, you, yourselves, who complain of others, are also among wrong-doers. wrong, I am not defending wrong, or fraud. A man is not to "Laws are like injure with impunity, bec. he may not be proceeded against in a cobwebs that en- court of law. and.. brethren, wrong would be sinful enough tangle the weak, if outsiders only were the inflicters and the sufferers. Christians through by the should act as brothers in Christ.

c 1 Th. iv. 6.

but are broken

strong."-Solon. A strict search.--A traveller on his journey crossed the frontier, "A multiplicity and had to pass through the Custom House. The officers said to of laws denotes him, "Have you any contraband goods?" to which he replied, great corruption "I do not think I have." "That may be all true," said the

in a state."Tacitus.

"However fre

quently you are injured, if real penitence and

officers, "but we cannot permit you to pass without examination. Permit us to search." "If you please," said the traveller; "but allow me to sit down while you perform your duty." The examination over, the traveller addressed the officers, saying, "Gentlemen, will you allow me to tell you what thoughts this examina

contrition follow tion has awakened in my mind. We are all travellers to an eternal

ways bound to

kingdom, into which we cannot take any contraband goods. By the offence, a these forbidden things I mean deceitfulness, anger, pride, lying, Christian is alcovetousness, and similar offences, which are hateful in the sight forgive." - Bishop of God. For all these every man who passes the boundary of the Porteus. grave is searched far more strictly than you have searched me. God is the great Searcher of hearts; from Him nothing is hid, and in that kingdom, as in this, every forbidden article subjects a man to punishment."

9-11. unrighteous.. God, a spiritual kingdom, ruled by inheritors of love, composed of godly citizens. deceived, by false teachers, the kingdom or your own corrupt views. fornicators, unchaste, sensual. a Ro. i. 24, 26, idolators, such crimes being connected with heathen worship. 27; Ga. v. 19— The denial of the true God destructive of morality. effemi- b "Maλakol, the

21.

with

αρσενοκοίται,

those who abused them. The wretches who

called

abuse, were likewise, Pathics, and affected the dress and behaviour of women."

night.

"-Mack

nate, etc., common sins of the heathen world at that time." name given to [iii. 267.] thieves.. covetous.. extortioners, for such men, who sufferpurposes are law courts sometimes used. drunkards d.. re-ed themselves to be abused by vilers, prob. all. to heathen feasts. such, infamous persons. men, contrary to were, bef. conversion. some, but not all, yet the best needed nature. Hence to be converted. washed, cleansed fr. impurities of heathenism. they are joined sanctified, consecrated to service of God. justified, in addi- here tion to forensic sense, delivered fr. sin. in.. Jesus, by His Sodomites, the power. by.. God, by the renewing influences of the Holy name given to Spirit. Justified in the name of Christ.-The results of justification. I. The restoration of amity and intercourse between the pardoned suffered this sinner and the pardoning God. II. Adoption of the persons justified into God's family. III. The habitual indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The immediate effects of this indwelling are-1. Tranquillity of conscience; 2. Power over sin; 3. A joyous hope of heaven.h-Christians reminded of their deliverance from their carnal state.-I. The humbling fact that the Church of God is composed of those who formerly ranked amongst the most noto-c Ep. v. 5; He. rious transgressors; but who now are changed. They are-1. 15. Washed; 2. Sanctified; 3. Justified. II. The way in which such d Is. v. 11; Ep. characters are made partakers of this honourable relation to the v. 18; Pr. xx. 1; Church of God. We are justified-1. In Christ's name; 2. By xxiii. 20, 21, 29the Spirit of God.i-Sanctification.-I. Its nature: 1. Separa-35; Ho. iv. 11; tion; 2. Appropriation; 3. Cleansing; 4. Preparation. II. Its difference from justification: 1. That relates to the guilt of sin: this to its power; 2. That frees us from God's wrath: this from evil tempers; 3. That gives us a right to heaven: this makes us fZec. xiii. 1; Ep. fit for it; 4. That is complete at once: this is ever progressive. v. 25, 26; Re. i. The doom of drunkards.-A parent once said to a Sabbath 5, 6; vii. 14; Ez. school teacher, "O, sir! I am very glad that you have got a school for boys on Sunday nights. I had such a reprimand and 91 Co. i. 30; Ro. sermon from my little lad the other night, as I never had before iii. 24-26. in my life. After he came home last Sunday night, he sat down h Dr. Bunting. very thoughtful, and at last began to cry, and said, "O, father, i Anon.

xiii. 4; Re. xxii.

Hab. ii. 15.

e Ep. ii. 1, 2; Col. iii. 5-7; Tit. iii. 3-7.

Xxxvi. 25-27.

if you go and get drunk, you will go to hell; and if I were to gok W. W. Wythe. to heaven, and see you on the left hand, O how I shall cry, and wish you to come to me!"

12-14. things, meats, etc. lawful, no crime in their lawful use.

lawful.. me,a to eat. If expediency expedient, self-denial for a 1 Co. viii. 8the sake of weaker brethren. How far this may strictly apply to 10, 13; x. 27, 28. private Christians is an open question. The Apostle's case, as an

1 Co. ix. 12;

Ro. xv. 2.

e Ro. xiv. 17, 20, 21; Col. ii. 22.

dRo. vi. 12, 13;

b

eminent public teacher related to many Churches composed of men of various antecedents and opinions, was most peculiar, esp. in that ill-informed and idolatrous age. will.. any, not under the power of any men with peculiar views, nor of things whether layful or only expedient. I will act as the occasion may require in minor matters. destroy.. them, as they will have no place in the future, let us not make too much of them here. body Lord,d even our perishing nature is to be consecrated to God's service. Lord.. body, He preserves its health, feeds, clothes, "Venture not to shelters, &c. God.. power, that the body will be glorified, the utmost shows it was made to glorify God.

xii. 1.

Phi. iii. 17-21;

Ro. viii. 11; 2 Co. iv. 14; Jo. vi. 39.

the limits of

bounds of even The limits of Christian rights.-I. The rights of Christian lawful pleasure: liberty: 1. The meaning of Christian expediency; 2. The nature good and evil of Christian liberty. II. The rights of nature: 1. The corresponjoin."-Fuller. dency of appetites with the gratification provided for them. To "To set the be governed by the springs of impulse-your appetites and mind above the passions-this is not your nature. The passions are but a part of appetites is the the man; 2. The transitoriness of the body, as furnishing an nence, which one argument for sensuality. It is the outward form of the body of the fathers alone which is transitory. Itself shall be renewed-a nobler, more observes to be glorious form, fitted for a higher and spiritual existence.

end of absti

not a virtue, but the ground-work of a virtue.". Johnson.

ƒ F. W. Robertson, M.A.

Expediency.-That expediency ever relateth to the end, we may gather from the very notion of the words; ovμpepev in the Greek is as much as to confer or contribute something, to bring in some help or furtherance towards the attainment of the desired end; and expedire in the Latin is properly to speed a g Sanderson. business, as the contrary thereof (impedire) is to hinder it. The "Expediency.-- word expedition cometh thence, and so doth this also of exA temporary pediency. That thing then may not unfitly be said to be expedimeans of effect-ent to any end that doth expedire, give any furtherance or avail ing an object. without regard towards the attaining of that end; and that, on the contrary, to to ulterior conse- be inexpedient, that doth impedire, cast in any let, rub, or im

quences."

Maunder.

union with Christ

a 1 Co. xii. 27; Ep. v. 20.

b Ge. ii. 24; Ma.

xix. 5.

e Ep. iv. 4; Ro.

xii. 2.

pediment, to hinder the same. It must be man's first care to propose to himself, in all his actions, some right end, and then he is to judge of the expediency of the means by their serviceableness thereunto.g

15-17. bodies.. Christ Pa subject to His direction, the objects of His care? take.. harlot P prostituting what belongs to Christ to sinful pleasures? one body ? in sinful desire, indulgence, inclination? joined.. spirit, one mind, virtuous disposition: otherwise there is no union with Christ.

Fornication.-I. Destroys all pretence to Christianity,-the body belongs to Christ,-should be employed in His service,-to give it to another is to deny Him, and to court destruction, which God forbid. II. Degrades the man-t -the harlot is the refuse of humanity-to be joined to her is to be one with her by a natural though not a law. III. Is impossible while we are joined to Christ-we are one of those who live spirit with him.d

d Dr. J. Lyth.
"There is a real,

personal union

the Divine life A happy reply.-A drunkard assailed a Washingtonian, but with Him who is could only say, "There goes a teetotaler!" The gentleman the great origin waited until the crowd had collected, and then turning upon the and principle of it. Whoever is drunkard said, "There stands a drunkard !—Three years ago he joined to the had a sum of 800 dollars, now he cannot produce a penny. Lord is caught know he cannot. I challenge him to do it, for if he had a penny spirit with Him, he would be at a public house. There stands a drunkard, and and that Spirit here stands a teetotaler, with a purse full of money, honestly

into a union of

I